Obituaries

Annie M. Estep

Photo of Annie M. Estep
Annie M. Estep of Sherwood, Ark., formerly of Fort Smith, Ark., began her eternal life with God and the rest of her family in heaven, October 21, 2014. Her family already in heaven includes her husband, R.C. (Nub) Estep; her parents, Sam Cox, & Mae Cline Cox; her brother, Sam Cox Jr.; sisters Sadie Stonebraker, Patricia Martin, Opal Roden, Ellen Johnson, Vina Cox, & Dorothy Cox. Ann was born August 16, 1932 in Natural Dam, Ark. She led an active life, first clearing fields, working with livestock, and doing her part of the standard home chores with her sisters and brother. At the age of sixteen, she worked while going to school to support herself, her mother and a sister. She married the love of her life, R.C. (Nub) Estep and they had a daughter, Denese Estep, who she adored, and who adores her even now. Growing up, Ann loved to sing and to play basketball. She and her sister, Iva played anytime they could and helped Cedarville High School to the state championship. She followed Razorback sports and thought the Lady Razorbacks basketball team "has a great coach now". She was looking forward to them going to the SEC Championship and further, "very soon". Ann was a strong believer in worker rights, equal pay for equal work, and was a union member/leader while working at Whirlpool Corp. in Fort Smith, Ark. Being "born Republican", she was proud to have "overcome that" as an adult, and was an active Democrat to the day she died. While going to the hospital, she told her daughter, she needed to stop to vote on the way back home because she was an avid "early voter". Ann always put God first, family second, and country third. Her family of course expanded with every new friend she met. Her church family and her Eastern Star family, both in Fort Smith and in Central Arkansas meant the world to her. She loved participating in Arts and Crafts group and Bible Study at First United Methodist Church in North Little Rock. She attended church every Sunday possible and enjoyed helping to prepare her Sunday School classroom, & visiting with her friends. Ann was a member of Harmony Chapter OES in Fort Smith (now merged with Liberty Chapter), She transferred her membership to Jewel Chapter, in North Little Rock, Ark. when she moved to Sherwood. She was a Worthy Matron several times at Harmony Chapter, and also served as Worthy Matron at Jewel Chapter. She was currently serving as the Arkansas Grand Chapter's, Grand Representative of Kansas at the time of her death. Ann is survived by her daughter, Denese Estep; her sisters, Iva Peters of Van Buren, Ark. and Virgie Brown, of Maud, Texas. She has a host of nieces and nephews of whom she was proud and loved dearly including, Doris Small (Dwight), Carol Gregory (Toby), Danny Peters, Tommy Peters, Kenny Cox, Bobby Cox (Debbie), Johnny Cox (Kelli), Roy Cox (Diana), Norma Norris (Bob), Carolyn, Ron Brown, Glenda Garcneau (John), Sonny Holmes (Helen), Estella Goodpasture (Jim), Bonita Landrum and others. Visitation and services will be held both in North Little Rock, Ark. and Van Buren, Ark. Visitation under the direction of Griffin-Leggett Rest Hills in Sherwood, Ark. will be Thursday, October 23, 2014, from 6-8 p.m., at Rest Hills. Memorial Service will be held Friday, October 24, 2014, at 2 p.m. in the Sanctuary of North Little Rock First United Methodist Church. In Van Buren, Ark., visitation will be Sunday, October 26, 2014 from 2-4 p.m. at Edwards Van Alma Funeral Home Sanctuary. Memorial Service will be held Monday, October 27, 2014 at 10 a.m. in the Edwards Van Alma Funeral Home Sanctuary. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Arkansas, or to the NLR First United Methodist Church outreach – Rice Depot. Please share your memories and condolences with the family at www.griffinleggettresthills.com.

Published October 24, 2014

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